A devastating fire late Saturday night has left the Ignite Sign Art Museum in Tucson reeling from significant losses. The museum, founded by Jude Cook and his wife, is now assessing the damage to its cherished collection of vintage signs.
Significant Losses in Museum’s Collection
Upon arriving at the museum on Monday, visitors were greeted by a wood plank blocking the entrance and the lingering smell of smoke. Jude Cook, co-founder of the museum, estimates that the fire destroyed around 500 items from their 1,300-piece collection. Among the lost items was Cook’s favorite, a rare “Old Fitzgerald’s” sign.
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“It’s just a little backbar sign that says ‘Old Fitzgerald’s’ on it. I’ve only seen it one time, the one I’ve got. And it’s gone. I’ve got, you know, I have 60, 70 advertising clocks, and it took out a big swath of that,” Cook said. In addition to the backbar sign, the fire decimated a large number of soda signs and advertising thermometers.
Fire’s Impact on Museum Structure
The blaze reportedly hit hardest at the back corner of the building, where many smaller items were displayed. A backdoor there is now coated in soot, and a collection of metal street signs inside suffered severe charring. The fire left much of the museum’s ceiling insulation scattered across the floor.
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Despite the extensive damage, some large neon signs, including those specific to Tucson, survived the fire, although some experienced warping from the heat. Cook anticipates it will take several months before the museum can resume normal operations.
Possible Cause Under Investigation
Cook suspects an electrical issue in the building, which dates back to the 1980s, might have sparked the fire. The Tucson Fire Department has yet to confirm the cause. On Facebook, the department mentioned that two crews responded to the fire around 10:45 p.m. Saturday and initially fought the fire from inside before retreating due to its intensity.
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Cook remains hopeful for the museum’s recovery, acknowledging the irreplaceable nature of some lost items. “Some of it is really irreplaceable,” he said. “Some of the stuff I’ve only seen one time, and I’ve been collecting for 50 years.”
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